Classification of Joints
Chapter 8
Joints of the Skeletal System
•  Fibrous Joints
•  dense connective tissues connect
bones
•  between bones in close contact
•  Articulations
•  Functional junctions between bones
•  Bind parts of skeletal system together
•  Make bone growth possible
•  Permit parts of the skeleton to change shape during
childbirth
•  Enable body to move in response to skeletal muscle
contraction
•  Cartilaginous Joints
•  hyaline cartilage or
fibrocartilage connect bones
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Fibrous Joints
• Held together by
dense connective
tissue
• Interosseous
membrane
• Interosseous
ligament
•  immovable
•  amphiarthrotic
•  slightly movable
•  diarthrotic
•  freely movable
•  Synovial Joints
•  most complex
•  allow free movement
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Fibrous Joints
3 Types
•  Syndesmosis
•  Suture
•  Gomphosis
Syndesmosis
• a sheet or bundle of
fibrous tissue connects
bones
•  amphiarthrotic
•  lies between tibia and
fibula
•  synarthrotic
Suture
•  between flat bones
•  synarthrotic
•  thin layer of connective
tissue connects bones
Gomphosis
•  cone-shaped bony
process in a socket
•  tooth in jawbone
•  synarthrotic
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1
Cartilaginous Joints
• Connected by
hyaline cartilage or
fibrocartilage
Cartilaginous Joints
2 Types
•  Synchondrosis
•  Symphysis
Symphysis
•  pad of fibrocartilage between bones
•  pubis symphysis
•  joint between bodies of adjacent vertebrae
•  amphiarthrotic
Synchondrosis
•  bands of hyaline cartilage
unite bones
•  epiphyseal plate
(temporary)
•  between manubrium and
first rib
•  synarthrotic
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General structure of a synovial
joints
Synovial Joints
• Articular cartilage
• Joint (articular) capsule
• Outer layer
• ligaments
• Inner layer - synovial
membrane
• synovial cavity
• synovial fluidlubricates and
protects joint
• Menisci-pad of cartilage
•  bursae-fluid filled sac
• Most common type
of joint
•  diarthrotic
• More complex
structurally
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Types of Synovial Joints
Ball-and-Socket Joint
Types of Synovial Joints
Condyloid Joint
•  hip
•  shoulder
• Allow the greatest degree of movement
•  between metacarpals
and phalanges
Gliding Joint
•  between carpals
•  between tarsals
Hinge Joint
•  elbow
•  between phalanges
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Types of Synovial Joints
Pivot Joint
•  between proximal
ends of radius and
ulna
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Types of Joint Movements
Saddle Joint
•  between carpal and
metacarpal of thumb
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•  abduction/adduction-moving away
from midline/moving toward the
midline of the body
•  dorsiflexion/plantarflexion-moving
toes toward shin/pointing toes down
•  flexion/extension/hyperextensiondecreasing the angle between two
bones/increasing the angle between two
bones/extending the joint past the
anatomical position
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3
Types of Joint Movements
Types of Joint Movements
•  eversion/inversion-rotating toes inward/rotating toes outward
• protraction/retraction-moving a structure anteriorly/moving a structure
posteriorly
•  elevation/depression-moving a structure superiorly/moving a structure
inferiorly
•  rotation/circumduction-rotating
around a point/moving a
structure in a circle
•  supination/pronation-rotating a
structure laterally/rotating a
structure medially
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Clinical Application
Life-Span Changes
• Fontanels close at 2, 3, 12, 18 - 24 months
• Fibrous joints strength with age
• Joint stiffness is an early sign of aging
• Fibrous joints first to change; can strengthen
over a lifetime
•  Changes in symphysis joints of vertebral
column diminish flexibility and decrease
height
•  Synovial joints lose elasticity
•  Disuse hampers the blood supply
•  Activity and exercise can keep joints
functional longer
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Joint Disorders
Sprains
•  damage to cartilage, ligaments, or tendons associated
with joints
•  forceful twisting of joint
Bursitis
•  inflammation of a bursa
•  overuse of a joint
Arthritis
•  inflamed, swollen, painful joints
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•  Rheumatoid Arthritis
•  Osteoarthritis
•  Gout
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4
Clinical Application
Joint Disorders
Dislocations
•  bones in a joint are displaced from their normal position
Torn Cartilage
•  meniscus tares
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